David Frum: Why on earth would Romney pick some right-wing nut like Paul Ryan to be his VP nominee?

Okay, Frum didn’t actually say “right-wing nut” but it’s strongly implied.

Hypothesis 1) Like many Republicans, Romney has been genuinely radicalized since 2008;

— David Frum (@davidfrum) August 11, 2012

Hypothesis 2) Romney camp's internal polling shows he's not holding GOP base;

— David Frum (@davidfrum) August 11, 2012

Hypothesis 3) The donors demanded it

— David Frum (@davidfrum) August 11, 2012

Hypothesis 4) Romney imagines that he can control Ryan better as VP than as de facto Speaker

— David Frum (@davidfrum) August 11, 2012

Hypothesis 5) Romney crumbles under pressure

— David Frum (@davidfrum) August 11, 2012

Can anybody think of a hypothesis 6?

— David Frum (@davidfrum) August 11, 2012

Why yes, David. Some of us can:

https://twitter.com/TJ_Lynn/status/234139435774656513

https://twitter.com/vsiakaluk/status/234139242111053824

There was a time, maybe 15-20 years ago, when David Frum would have spoken admiringly of a politician like Rep. Paul Ryan who is willing to engage in a serious discussion about our nation’s entitlement crisis. Not any more.

https://twitter.com/lettlander/status/234138706758496256

And then there’s this:

Nobody with a functioning brain respects Frum, so why not pick the guy he'd least want. RT @davidfrum Can anybody think of a hypothesis 6?

— Vincent Loughnane (@vploughnane) August 11, 2012